By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridanewsline.com
Three Bolles upper school students returned from an enriching trip to Tokyo as part of the Bolles Japanese Exchange Program with the Keio School. The group — Alex Boutwell ’24, Akshay Ketty ’24 and Bode Klassen ’25 — immersed themselves in Japanese culture and experienced life as a student in Tokyo while staying with students from Keio and their families from June 2 – 18. Their Japanese peers visited Jacksonville earlier this spring.
This study-abroad program is part of the innovative and expanding Bolles Global Learning and Engagement Program, which aims to blend leadership skills and global competence development among students from Pre-K to Grade 12.
During their exchange trip, the students participated in engaging academic classes and cultural experiences, including Japanese calligraphy, judo and kendo lessons. The students also tried delicious local cuisine, participated in a traditional tea ceremony and carved kanji into stone to create stamps. Their journey was further enriched by meeting with Bolles upper school Japanese teacher Yukari Braren during their time in Japan.
Bolles has enjoyed a longstanding exchange relationship with Keio. This study-abroad program was conducted for the first time in three years after being canceled due to Covid.
Photo courtesy Bolles
Three Bolles upper school students participated in engaging academic classes and cultural experiences during their trip to Tokyo.
